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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at this work situation? Advice appreciated.

142 replies

Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:29

I've been working at a company for a little under a year. Really enjoyed it so far and especially in last couple of months have grown hugely in confidence and delivered key project.

Here's the messy/annoying part: my line manager is leaving and I'm disappointed as I love her. In our recent 1 to 1 she told me that she is putting me forward for a senior position in the team. To be clear, there is me (most junior but more 'associate' level), my manager (senior) and the director of department (my boss's boss who I also work with and know well).

She said she had sent on her list of objectives I needed to tick off to get that promotion to her boss. I anxiously asked who they were going to hire to replace her - and she tells me she is going to recommend they promote me and get someone more junior to work under me. At a recent work function two other colleagues approached me and asked if this meant I was getting promoted. And I feel ready.

Well...she is now on holiday and I've seen not one, but two, senior positions in the team open up (clearly instigated by boss's boss). I also spoke to this person yesterday who said he was impressed with me and keen to discuss my future but hadn't had a deep conversation with my manager (clearly: no promotion discussed despite what I've been lead to believe)

To my mind, I am already performing at that senior level. So to see they are now recruiting for two positions above me has really annoyed me. I even looked up one interviewee on LinkedIn and saw they were less experienced. How should I handle this?

OP posts:
alpenguin · 10/08/2022 20:30

Apply for the jobs?

Whattodoaboutworknow · 10/08/2022 20:32

Yes apply for the jobs? At my company they still have to advertise for a job even if they have someone in mind for the role.

Original poster
Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:33

I've never done that before @alpenguin - I suppose I could? The thing is that during the conversation I has with my line manager two weeks ago she said 'these are the objectives you need to nail in the next 6 months to get promotion' - so it seems like jumping the gun.

I'm disappointed that boss's boss didn't think of me to be honest. I know that may be naive. Frankly if two senior people are brought in above me I'll be looking elsewhere.

OP posts:
SummaLuvin · 10/08/2022 20:33

I think equal opportunities mean that vacancies must be advertised outside of the company too.

Sheepreallylikerichteabiscuits · 10/08/2022 20:35

You need to apply for the jobs

Just because she has recommended you doesn't mean you are interested. Apply for the jobs is how you indicate you are interested.

How are you seeing the interviewees details? Unless you are involved in the recruitment? And if you are involved the recruitment then its clearly not obvious you are interested in the role as they wouldn't have involved you if they knew that.

Sheepreallylikerichteabiscuits · 10/08/2022 20:36

Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:33

I've never done that before @alpenguin - I suppose I could? The thing is that during the conversation I has with my line manager two weeks ago she said 'these are the objectives you need to nail in the next 6 months to get promotion' - so it seems like jumping the gun.

I'm disappointed that boss's boss didn't think of me to be honest. I know that may be naive. Frankly if two senior people are brought in above me I'll be looking elsewhere.

Are you in the UK?

Original poster
Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:36

It's just bizarre. My line manager is on holiday. Before she left said 'ive passed the objectives for the promotion on to boss for sign off'

When I asked the boss's boss yesterday it was very clear no promotion had been discussed. Or he's playing dumb. It made me feel quite awkward.

OP posts:
Original poster
Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:41

I feel my own line manager had a duty to pass on my desire for that role before the recruitment process began as she said she had. I made it clear I wanted the position.

For them to not have done that and said something vague about objectives is not what I was lead to believe was happening. I think there has been a communication breakdown to an extent between these two bosses.

OP posts:
SushiGo · 10/08/2022 20:41

I think you are misunderstanding what she meant. It won't be a case if do X tasks and you will automatically be promoted without doing anything else

You still have to apply for the roles.

itsjustnotok · 10/08/2022 20:41

Personally I would have expected to apply for the job for the purposes of equal opportunities. I was under the impression jobs had to be advertised, so apply and show off your skills!

Clarinet1 · 10/08/2022 20:42

If your boss said that there were objectives to reach before you were ready for promotion does that mean that you’re not quite ready yet? In this case could the powers that be be thinking they need to hire in the
meantime?
However if you want the job, as PP have said, go for it and apply. You might wow them at interview and there is always the possibility that the advertising was just a box-ticking exercise anyway. Good luck!

Original poster
Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:43

SushiGo · 10/08/2022 20:41

I think you are misunderstanding what she meant. It won't be a case if do X tasks and you will automatically be promoted without doing anything else

You still have to apply for the roles.

No that isn't it @SushiGo - the proposed role didn't even have a job spec. She said she had actually created a whole new one for me and that THAT is what she had asked her boss to sign off 2 weeks ago...as long as I fulfil certain objectives within six months.

Two weeks later this role that didn't exist before but I was told was being created for me essentially has appeared and advertised externally/not discussed with me.

OP posts:
Tohaveandtohold · 10/08/2022 20:44

You need to apply for the jobs. At my work, even if you’ve been seconding at a senior position and everyone can see that you deserve the role, when the position opens up, it still has to go on the job board for people to apply. The only thing is that since the hiring manager already knows you’re capable of doing the job, it saves them training someone else to do it so you have a better chance of getting the role

Original poster
Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:47

Clarinet1 · 10/08/2022 20:42

If your boss said that there were objectives to reach before you were ready for promotion does that mean that you’re not quite ready yet? In this case could the powers that be be thinking they need to hire in the
meantime?
However if you want the job, as PP have said, go for it and apply. You might wow them at interview and there is always the possibility that the advertising was just a box-ticking exercise anyway. Good luck!

I suppose but frankly I pointed out most of the so called objectives are things I'm already fulfilling which is true. There are a few training points for me to fulfil but it won't take much.

Bear in mind my manager said she was going to recommend promoting me and hiring for someone junior. That is clearly not what is happening. And the fact is we are not a big enough company that there will be that many openings for these senior positions.

OP posts:
Sheepreallylikerichteabiscuits · 10/08/2022 20:47

Honestly it all sounds like a strange messy situation.

But ultimately she is leaving, so even if she was trying to create a job for you neither her boss nor her successor has to abide by any conversations they had with her.

So if you want one of these new jobs, apply for it and interview for it. Because if you don't apply for it just because she hasn't 'signified your interest' then you are definitely not going to get it.

Mamette · 10/08/2022 20:48

Your boss is leaving so it won’t ultimately matter what she said/ didn’t say.

I too think you should apply for the roles.

Winederlust · 10/08/2022 20:49

SushiGo · 10/08/2022 20:41

I think you are misunderstanding what she meant. It won't be a case if do X tasks and you will automatically be promoted without doing anything else

You still have to apply for the roles.

I agree, this is how it would usually work, no?

If you want the job, just apply for it. What have you got to lose? Especially if you're going to throw your toys out of the pram and leave if they recruit someone else anyway.

WalkingOnSonshine · 10/08/2022 20:50

Either she’s discussed it with her boss who doesn’t think you are ready and is avoiding that conversation.

Or they assume the conversation has been had with you about applying for the job.

I had a job created for me in my last company as a promotion. I still needed to apply & interview for it, in line with HR policy. That was how I evidenced that I was ready for it.

Original poster
Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:53

WalkingOnSonshine · 10/08/2022 20:50

Either she’s discussed it with her boss who doesn’t think you are ready and is avoiding that conversation.

Or they assume the conversation has been had with you about applying for the job.

I had a job created for me in my last company as a promotion. I still needed to apply & interview for it, in line with HR policy. That was how I evidenced that I was ready for it.

I think the root cause is down to a communication breakdown between the two managers.

When I spoke to the boss's boss yesterday he said he was really impressed with my handling of a recent project and how confident and far I'd come in a short time. Then said let's definitely talk more so 'im up to speed with the conversation you had with line manager'. By this point I'd been lead to believe the promotion had been discussed. Clearly not.

OP posts:
sugarspiceplumfairy · 10/08/2022 20:54

Agree with pp you’d still need to apply for the job

why didn’t you apply when you saw it advertised?

Original poster
Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:55

I actually think applying for this role (and not getting it in favour of someone else) would cause a very awkward scenario.

Boss's boss isn't just some senior person I have hardly any dealings with. We work closely together. I can understand them hiring one senior person above me but not two. I'm taking on more big projects now - we really need someone junior in to soak up smaller things.

OP posts:
Original poster
Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:55

sugarspiceplumfairy · 10/08/2022 20:54

Agree with pp you’d still need to apply for the job

why didn’t you apply when you saw it advertised?

I only just saw it posted while commuting home! It just went up tonight.

OP posts:
Coffeetree · 10/08/2022 20:57

I think your feelings are a little bruised by the fact that she's leaving, and that's closing your judgement.

Don't take offence and seethe. Your manager is leaving so no one's going to listen to her anyway. You want the jobs, apply!!!

Sheepreallylikerichteabiscuits · 10/08/2022 20:58

Celia24 · 10/08/2022 20:55

I actually think applying for this role (and not getting it in favour of someone else) would cause a very awkward scenario.

Boss's boss isn't just some senior person I have hardly any dealings with. We work closely together. I can understand them hiring one senior person above me but not two. I'm taking on more big projects now - we really need someone junior in to soak up smaller things.

Awkward but completely normal

I have applied for promotions before and not got them, I have applied for promotions and got them. I only applied for the same role as my best friend and she got it and I didn't. Its a totally normal part of adult like.

What is not a normal part of adult life is sitting around waiting for your boss to create a role for you, and then when you don't apply for the role saying you will leave if someone else gets it. Of course someone else will get it if you don't apply for it.

Coffeetree · 10/08/2022 20:58

*clouding